INDIANA INVADERS ADD ASSISTANT COACH DAVID WATKINS
January 29, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders formally announced the addition of
a new assistant coach to the team's staff. The Invaders have added
Coach David Watkins.
Watkins will work directly with Team Director Greg Harger in enhancing
and developing the elite development middle distance oriented training
element of the Invaders. Watkins was a Volunteer Men's Assistant Coach
at Morehouse College and most recently an Assistant Cross Country Coach
at North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU).
Team Director Greg Harger
said, "Watkins has a great background from his personal running and
military experiences along with recent collegiate coaching experiences.
I'm excited to have him join us here in Indianapolis as we continue to
grow our national class elite development program. Another set of eyes
and hands at practice is a valuable resource to our athletes." Harger
added, "Coaching resources are a difference maker to athletes seeking
support in an elite development environment. Bringing in additional
resources in the form of coaching and raising significant financial
support for overall program enhancement are key to achieving the medal
winning potential that our community holds. These recently added
coaching man-hours will free up vital hours dedicated to new
fundraising efforts."
Since 1999 the Invaders have had one IAAF World Indoor Champion, one
IAAF World Indoor Bronze Medalist, eight USA National Champions, one
USA Olympic Team Member, nine USA National Team Members and 128 USA
National Championship Qualifiers.
The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998,
presents an innovative approach to track & field by providing a
resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in
the United States.
INDIANA INVADERS SHUNK OPENS WITH USA CHAMPIONSHIP STANDARD
January 28, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Adam Shunk became the second athlete on
the roster to qualify for this season's USA Indoor Championship with his
winning jump of 2.21 meters in the high jump at the Gladstein
Invitational, hosted by Indiana University on January 27, 2007.
Shunk, competing with a NIKE affiliation, returns as the defending USA
Indoor National Champion in the high jump. Shunk has represented the
United States on two US National Teams including the World Indoor
Championships held in Moscow, Russia in 2006 and the eight-nation
DecaNation competition held in Paris, France in 2005. Collegiately,
Shunk took top honors in the high jump by winning the NCAA Indoor
Championships in 2003.
Teammate Ricardo Bell won the 600m in a time of 1:18.47 in running his
first 600m of the Indoor season. Bell, posted the fastest 600m time by
an American in 2006. Bell's teammate, Jacob Koczman, also one of the
fastest Americans over 600 meters in 2006 opened his indoor season with
a 1:18.11 win at the Hawkeye Invitational January 13th, 2007.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "It was very good to see Shunk easily
qualify for the Indoor Championships with his season opener. His
recovery from an auto accident from a few weeks ago has been facilitated
greatly by the expertise of our Gold Medical Team. The leadership of St.
Vincent Sports Medicine and the rest of our sports medicine team,
specifically including Dr. Sheila Wilson, has been vital in Shunk’s
return to high level training." Harger added, "Bell ran a tactically
competitive 600 and given the slow start to his training due to a
sequence of minor injuries his outdoor prospects at 800 meters are
looking better every day."
The Indiana Invaders will compete at the US Indoor Championships in
Boston, Massachusetts on February 24-25 at the Reggie Lewis Center. The
Invaders currently have two athletes qualified with Adam Shunk in the
high jump (2.24) and Amber Plowden in the 60 meters (7.44).
Gladstein Inviational Results:
http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/w-track/stats/2006-2007/gladsteinday1.html
http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/w-track/stats/2006-2007/gladsteinday2.html
The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998,
presents an innovative approach to track & field by providing a
resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in
the United States.
INDIANA INVADERS ADD LONG JUMPER PATRICIA SOMAN
January 23, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added stand-out long jumper
Patricia Soman to the team's roster. Soman has a career best of 6.60
meters in the long jump.
Soman, a graduate of Ball State University, was an NCAA All-American in
both the long jump and triple jump. She was a four event MAC Conference
Champion (LJ, TJ, 100 and 200) and 2002-2003 Academic All-American.
She also holds the indoor and outdoor Ball State records in both the
long jump and triple jump. Soman is married to 2006 USA Indoor National
Champion high jumper, Adam Shunk. Shunk, a member of the Indiana
Invaders is now competing for NIKE.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Soman is a great competitor and she
represented Ball State well throughout her collegiate career. It's
wonderful for our community to see her return to competition after
several years away from the sport where she was settling in to her
profession as an accountant." Harger added, "With the 2008 Olympic
Season nearly here the focus for Soman is to take her training and
competing to the necessary levels this year such that she can create
opportunities for an Olympic experience in 2008."
Soman joins a team that had 16 athletes qualify for both the 2000 and
the 2004 US Olympic Trials.
The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998,
presents an innovative approach to track & field by providing a
resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in
the United States.
INDIANA INVADERS ADD LONG DISTANCE RUNNING COACH
January 21, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders formally announced the addition of a
new coach to the team's staff. The Invaders have added long distance
coach Matt Ebersole, an Indiana native and graduate of Ball State
University and Harding High School (Ft. Wayne, Ind).
Ebersole, a long-time personal running coach based in Indianapolis, has
had over 4,000 people go through his training programs since 1991.
Ebersole has been very involved locally in developing training programs
for the famed Indy Mini Half Marathon and nationally has been involved
in developing the Team in Training programs for the Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society. Coach Ebersole has produced three Olympic Trials qualifying
athletes in the marathon including two athletes qualified for the 2008
Olympic Trials Marathon.
Ebersole will join the Invaders' program with a specific emphasis on the
long distance running element of the team's elite development program.
Ebersole's responsibilities will be to recruit and retain top Indiana
distance talent, and to further develop the talent of the team's roster
at the longer distances. Ebersole's role with the team will complement
Team Director and Coach Greg Harger's successes in developing national
class middle distance talent.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Ebersole has been a long-time fixture
in the Indianapolis running community. His programs have helped
thousands experience running in a positive way and his addition to the
Invaders really means that we have more critical coaching resources
available to focus on aspiring US elite development talent targeting USA
LDR Championships. We'll work closely together, combining our
experiences and shared enthusiasm for the work involved in building a
stronger example of athletic excellence for our community." Harger
added, "The team is excited to have Ebersole with the program. The
additional coaching resources available to our distance athletes means
greater dividends in our community as we position ourselves to support
our athletes to compete at a higher national and international level in
long distance events."
Coach Matt Ebersole said, "Retaining and supporting the distance running
talent of Indiana is one of our biggest challenges. By developing and
focusing our community resources we can support a medal winning program
for Indiana’s elite athletes. I'm very excited to work with Coach
Harger as we build a model for Olympic Development in our community."
Ebersole added, "My coaching philosophy is to train intelligently, focus
on the long-term goals and develop the base needed to compete
consistently at a high level nationally."
Since 1999 the Invaders have had one IAAF World Indoor Champion, one
IAAF World Indoor Bronze Medalist, eight USA National Champions, one USA
Olympic Team Member, nine USA National Team Members and 128 USA National
Championship Qualifiers.
The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998,
presents an innovative approach to track & field by providing a
resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in
the United States.
INDIANA INVADERS ADD NCAA 400H QUALIFIER ANDREA MOSHER
January 10, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added NCAA Qualifying 400 meter
hurdler Andrea Mosher, a graduate of Illinois State University and Ann
Arbor Pioneer High School (MI), to the team's roster. Mosher has a
career best of 58.38 in the 400 hurdles and a best of 14.07 in the 100
hurdles.
While at Illinois State University, Mosher qualified for the 2003 NCAA
Outdoor Championships in the 400 hurdles and helped set four school
records. Mosher was also a six-time Missouri Valley Conference champion.
In high school, Mosher attended Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and was a
state champion in the 300 hurdles in route to setting Michigan's state
record in that event. Mosher was a 2002 USATF Junior All-American in the
400 hurdles running the second fastest all-time performance in
Michigan prep history.
Team Director Greg Harger
said, "Mosher has a diverse athletic resume
and a wide range of talent. Her best event may not be the hurdles short
or long." Harger added, "In her senior year, Mosher competed the
Indiana Invitational 800 where won the multi-round format her first and
second 800 efforts ever. We will explore some things for her in this
initial post-collegiate season and focus on preparation for the 2008
season while she wraps up her graduate studies."
Mosher joins a team that had 16 athletes qualify for both the 2000 and
the 2004 US Olympic Trials.
The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998,
presents an innovative approach to track & field by providing a
resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in
the United States.
INDIANA INVADERS INDOOR TRACK SEASON OPENS: PLOWDEN HEADED TO USA NATIONALS
January 7, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders enter the 2007 indoor track season
with a strong roster looking for early national championship qualifying
marks. The Invaders enter their ninth full competitive season as a
USATF club focused on elite athlete development.
The Invaders over the past eight years have had more athletes in more
different events in USA Track & Field and Cross Country Championship
events than any other club in the United States. Arguably America's best
USATF Track & Field Team dedicated to elite athlete development based on
nationals’ participation numbers. The Indiana Invaders support has also
delivered athletes to the international scene covering the entire
spectrum of USA National Teams with members on Cross Country, Indoor
Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field and World Road Racing Teams that
have included one World Indoor Champion, one World Indoor Bronze
medalist, one Olympian, eight USA National Champions, nine USA National
Team members, and 128 athlete appearances at USATF national
championships since 1999.
Amber Plowden, former NCAA Division II Champion in the 100, was the
first Indiana Invaders athlete to hit the national indoor qualifying
standard with her career best time of 7.44 at the Indiana Open, in
Bloomington, Indiana on Saturday, January 6th.
Other top performers on the Invaders' roster expected to hit early
season qualifiers are led by Hunter Spencer. Spencer enters the 2007
season fresh of off a victory on the roads at the Millennium Mile held
in Londonderry, New Hampshire on December 31st. Spencer’s winning mile
time of 3:52 missed the course record by one second on a road course
with a notable history of national and international class runners
winning with sub-4 minute miles.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "We have a strong group in the sprints
and middle distance events training for notable indoor seasons. Getting
qualified early for Indoor Nationals is a priority in January in order
to resume training focus for outdoor as we expect a busy outdoor 2007
season. The investments that we make now in races and in training are
geared to maximize our performances this outdoor season in preparation
for next year's Olympic season." Harger added, "The 2008 Olympic Trials
are slightly more than a year away. Generally training consistency and
long-term focus now are going to be the difference-makers in athletes
achieving Olympic Trials qualifying marks. It's exciting for the team as
we go forward into this season and having the bonus of outdoor nationals
again being held in our state."
Indiana Open - Results:
http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/w-track/stats/2006-2007/results.html
Millennium Mile - Results:
http://www.millenniummile.com/mm8_results.htm
The 2007 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held in
Indianapolis in June:
http://www.usatf.org/events/2007/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/
The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998,
presents an innovative approach to track & field by providing a
resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in
the United States.
